The Crookston Pirate Boys Basketball team, behind a career-high 29 points from Carter Bruggeman, beat the Warroad Warriors 75-66 in a Section 8AA matchup played in Warroad.
FIRST HALF
Crookston jumped out to a 4-0 lead with back-to-back baskets from Easton Tangquist, the second basket coming off a nice pass from Carter Bruggeman. “We came out with a lot of energy,” said Pirate Coach Greg Garmen. “We need to come out with a lot of energy in all our games.” Warroad stopped the run when Virgil Laznicka scored, but Crookston quickly countered with a Bruggeman basket for a 6-2 lead. The teams exchanged baskets, and Crookston led 10-7 when Jack Garmen rattled home a three-pointer, and Caden Osborn scored in the paint for a 15-7 lead five minutes into the game. In a reoccurring theme throughout the game, Warroad came back with five straight points. In another reoccurring theme in the game, Crookston answered with a run of their own when Osborn grabbed an offensive rebound and scored while getting fouled and converted a three-point play. Bruggeman added two free throws, and Crookston led 20-12 with 10:11 left in the game. Warroad battled back to get within a 21-18 deficit, but Crookston pulled away again with two more Bruggeman free throws, a Garmen three-pointer, and a Bruggeman three-point play for a 29-18 lead with less than four minutes to go in the half. Warroad finished the final four minutes on an 11-3 run, and Crookston took a 32-29 lead into halftime. “We had Caden on the bench with two fouls, and we struggled a little bit at the end of the half,” said Coach Garmen. “We are getting used to playing without Caden because of foul trouble, and Brady Butt and Joseph Ramirez filled in nice, and that was great to see.”
SECOND HALF –
The teams exchanged baskets without a big run for the first half of the second half, but Warroad slowly chipped away and got within five points (46-41) with 12:58 to go in the game. Crookston answered with an 8-1 run with six points from Caden Osborn and two free throws from Bruggeman for a 54-42 lead. “That was a big run for us,” said Coach Garmen. “I thought we handled the pressure well, and the kids did a good job and were able to find their open teammates.” The teams exchanged baskets before Warroad scored four straight points, only to have Crookston’s Bruggeman answer with four points of his own for a 60-45 lead with less than seven minutes to go. Warroad started another run, this time five straight points before Walker Winjum made one of two free throws and the Pirates led 61-51. Warroad got a free throw before Walker Winjum had a layup, and Bruggeman had four straight points for a 67-52 lead with less than four minutes remaining in the game. With two minutes left, Crookston missed a layup, and Warroad answered with two free throws by Joseph Dignan to get within a 69-61 deficit with two minutes left. Crookston made enough plays the rest of the game and held on for a 75-69 victory. “Two out of the three games we have scored alright. The kids are shooting well to start the season,” said Coach Garmen. “Anytime you come up to Warroad and get a win, it is nice.”
Crookston improves to 1-2 on the year and will travel to Perham on Thursday. Warroad drops to 0-2 on the year.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| CROOKSTON | 32 | 43 | 75 |
| Warroad | 29 | 37 | 66 |
| For Crookston | Points | Rebound | Steals/Assists |
| Carter Bruggeman | 29 | 7 | 4 assists |
| Caden Osborn | 18 | 6 | 2 blocks |
| Jack Garmen | 10 | 5 | |
| Easton Tangquist | 10 | 4 | 2 steals/2 assists |
| Walker Winjum | 8 | 7 | 2 assists/2 steals |
| For Warroad | Points |
| Virgil Laznicka | 14 |
| Joseph Dignan | 14 |
| Evan Grover | 11 |
| Cole Spenst | 11 |
| Dylan Fox | 6 |
| Jeremy Cole | 6 |
| Jace Thompson | 4 |
